When the Raiders drafted Khalil Mack with the fifth-overall pick in the 2014, it was a decision general manager Reggie McKenzie made with a trade offer on the table.
As it turns out, the second round pick used on Derek Carr came with a similar set of circumstances.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Raiders had a healthy trade offer for the pick used on Carr, as well.
The #Raiders considered trading back to collect extra picks. Instead, they stuck and grabbed Derek Carr. Had they slid back, the #Titans would’ve selected Carr. 🤔🤔🤔 https://t.co/5dfbIM4wOt
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2018
Like most general managers in the NFL, McKenzie has taken heat over the years for his draft picks.
Occasionally he doesn’t get the credit he deserves for drafting Mack and Carr from critics who say the cornerstones of the Raiders roster “fell into his lap” on draft day.
In fact, it sounds like McKenzie had to turn down the one thing he loves most to draft Mack and Carr…
More draft picks.
twitter: @raidersbeat
As we’ve all said, many times, he deserves credit for nailing the 2014 draft. However he’s blown every draft since then. Not to mention that not a single player remains from both the 2012 or 2013 drafts.
The only draft since 2014 that has had 3 seasons to develop is the 2015 draft, and it’s pretty obvious that Cooper still has star potential. The ’16 class were all sophomores last year with terrible coaching. In fact, every class so far has had terrible coaching, so nobody knows how good RM’s drafts have actually been. Both the ’12 and ’13 drafts RM lacked picks plus was forced to use Al’s scouting department, so he didn’t even have his own guys scouting players.
Its shocking actually. Great insight on RM to show that he may actually know what he is doing and to show all of these negative nay sayers whats really going on. Now, granted, anybody would honestly be a fool to trade OUT of getting Kahlil Mack even on draft day when you for sure dont know that he will turn out to be an all pro like he is today. But at the time you could still see he was going to be a BEAST. Now the Carr pick, that is a little different…
Nice look at it from the other side write up…not once did i ever consider this. Thank you